Congratulations , Amitabh Nag

 

Congratulations , Amitabh Nag

( CEO – Bhashini /  bhashini@digitalindia.gov.in /  amitabh_na@yahoo.com ),

 

 

 

Context :

Ø  Talk to ‘Bhashini’ for UPI-based services in local languages  … ET   /  13 Oct 2023

 

Extract :

‘LPG gas book kar do’

- is all you will need to say to book a cooking gas cylinder as a government initiative will soon let mobile users avail a slew of services from electricity payment to Fastag recharge by just saying what they want in their own language.

In a bid to advance linguistic inclusion in the PAYMENTS ECO-SYSTEMS, Bhashini – the government’s AI –powered Multilanguage national language translation platform – is looking to expand , VOICE-BASED facilities under the National Payments Corporation of India ( NPCI )

The new facilities in the works include :

#   Bank Account Balance check

#   Business-to-Business ( B2B ) transfers

#   Electricity Payments

#   Fastag Recharge

#   Mobile and Landline payments

#   Gas payments

#   Challan payment

#   Metro Card recharge

#   Insurance Renewals ,

-        Through VOICE COMMANDS

 

“ In some way, we are looking to bridge the digital and LITERACY DIVIDE to a large extent, and for that, it is important for us, to get into transactions. NPCI is one such case, and the farmer BOT ( for PM Kisan Yojna ) is another case “ , Bhashini chief executive Amitabh Nag told ET

When we use VOICE , we are in a position to be able to COMMUNICATE with the MACHINES irrespective of whether you know the digital operations of machines or not, he said, adding, “ When you use VOICE, you need not be LITERATE “

These services will progressively be rolled out in all 22 official languages, Nag said, but the timeline for when they will be launched is to be decided by the respective partner organization

“ There are multiple such use cases around NPCI ….. any system where payments are done can be a use case like gas / ticket booking etc., can be done using VOICE “ , he said

Bhashini and NPCI had last month launched VOICE or “ CONVERSATIONAL “ payments facility, Hello ! UPI , at the Global Fintech Festival in Mumbai

Users can call in to the number  080-45163802, and use English or Hindi to ask to transfer money. The BOT will then ask whom the money is to be transferred to, and the user has to provide the beneficiary’s number

 

MY  TAKE  :

 

Ø  How to go Cash - Less ?  ………………………………. 27  Nov  2016

 

Extract :

 

Dear Shri Amitabh ( Kant ) :

 

 

Like you ( and of course , Shri Modiji ) , I have a great faith in the ability of Indian software engineers ( local or NRI ) to come up with revolutionary solutions / innovations !

 

Just ask Sundar Pichai , Sam Pitroda , Satya Nadela , Sachin Katti , Pranav Mistry , Sanjay Sarma , Nandan Nilekani etc , if they will help implement the following :

 

*  Buyer  buys something worth Rs 100 from a shopkeeper

 

 

*  Buyer and the Seller , look into their own mobile-cameras ( of  smart phones

   loaded with M-Rup ) for biometric Aadhar identification / linked to Jan Dhan a/c

 

 

*  Seller speaks in his mobile : " Muze Sau Rupiah dedo "

 

 

*  Buyer speaks in his mobile : " Inko Sau Rupiah dedo "

 

 

*  Message flashes in the mobile screen of Seller :

" Tumhare account-me Sau Rupiah Jamah ho gaya / GST bhi kaat ke Sarkar-ko bhej diya "

   

 

*  Message flashes in the mobile screen of Buyer :

" Tumhare account-se , Sau Rupiah inko Bhej Diya . Abhi balance me teen sau sath rupiah bacha hai "

 

==================================================  

 

I request all concerned , not to insult our engineers / scientists / geeks , by

doubting if such SIMPLIFICATION ( based on day to day spoken language ) is

possible

 

Doubting Thomas may want to look up ... PILOT   

{  http://www.waverlylabs.com/  }

 

This is the only way rural India can bypass the Jurassic Age of Plastic Cards to

usher into a CASH-LESS society !

 

 Here is what ChatGPT had to say when I asked it to comment on this blog ( draft ) :

 

Here's a tabulation of the comparison between your 2016 proposal and Bhashini's 2023 implementation based on different parameters:

Parameter	Hemen's Proposal (2016)	Bhashini's Proposal (2023)
Voice-Based Transactions	Suggested a system using voice commands for transactions.	Implemented voice-based transactions for various services.
Biometric Identification	Proposed the use of biometric Aadhar identification.	Likely leverages biometric authentication for security.
User-Friendly Communication	Emphasized simple communication through voice commands.	Focuses on user-friendly voice-based interactions.
Use of Spoken Language	Advocated the use of spoken language for transactions.	Allows transactions in local languages, promoting accessibility.
Trust in Engineers' Innovation	Expressed confidence in Indian software engineers' abilities.	Demonstrates trust in innovation through AI-powered technology.
Simplification of Transactions	Stressed the importance of simplification for all users.	Aims to simplify transactions to bridge the digital divide.

This tabulation provides a clear overview of the key parameters and how they align between the two proposals.

 It shows that Bhashini's 2023 implementation follows many of the principles and ideas outlined in your 2016 proposal, with an emphasis on simplicity, accessibility, and innovation.

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai / 16 Oct 2023